Iran has successfully subverted a plot to sabotage tanks of heavy water to be used in nuclear reactors, a senior official of Iran’s nuclear department told local Arman daily. A "foreign country" is suspected of being behind the attempt.

“Thanks to the full alertness of our colleagues, we were able
to detect and defuse the sabotage attempt,” deputy head of
Iran’s nuclear department, Asghar Zarean, told the newspaper.

“There were attempts to cause disruption in storage tanks due
to carry heavy water. But these attempts were discovered and
foiled before the tanks were filled with heavy water at
Arak,” he stated, but did not say what he believed to be the
intended consequence.

Zarean has not elaborated on who he believes is responsible for
the plot, only saying that “a foreign country was behind the
attempt.”

While heavy water is not in itself radioactive, it is essential
in the operation of nuclear reactors – both those that help with
the creation of nuclear power and those which are involved in the
creation of nuclear weapons.

“The enemy should know that it cannot take any action against
Iran's nuclear activities,” said Zarean. “In fact, Iran
is able to find and defuse any sabotage in both hardware and
software fields.”

In March, Iranian officials reported on the neutralization of
several plots to sabotage the country’s atomic industry,
including, like this time, at the 40-megawatt Arak heavy water
reactor. The West fears that plutonium – a nuclear bomb fuel –
could be produced there.

In June, Iran said it was planning to redesign the Arak reactor
to sharply cut its potential output of plutonium.

Iran has been involved in a series of long and drawn-out
discussions with high-level Western officials over the status of
its nuclear program. The West believes it has been using its
civilian atomic energy program as cover for the envelopment of a
nuclear weapons program.

Iran has repeatedly and steadfastly denied the charges, saying it
needs its capabilities for energy and medicine, and has
subsequently accused the West on several occasions of attempting
to sabotage its nuclear program.

In 2010, the Stuxnet computer virus temporarily disrupted the
operation of hundreds of centrifuges at the Natanz uranium
enrichment facility. Iran said it was a concerted effort by
Israel and the US to undermine its nuclear program.

Iran is currently in talks with the US, Britain, France, China,
Russia, and Germany over reaching an agreement on its uranium
enrichment program. The collective has until November 24 to come
to an agreement.